Contribution of agricultural mechanization in rice production system to support sustainable agriculture in Klaten Regency, Central Java

ABSTRACT Development of agricultural mechanization can not stand alone, because it is a sub system in the production process. Many studies shows, that agricultural machinery have a very close relationship with the socio-economic dynamics of agricultural production system that requires a good management for agriculture machineries management which is known as UPJA as custom hiring. Implementation of agricultural mechanization in the concept of modern agriculture can increase work capacity in agricultural production process in every stage of production process, reduce production cost by increasing efficiency and productivity, decrease losses, and improving product quality. Hand tractor, paddy transplanter, power thresher and combine harvester has been used in paddy farming system in Klaten district, Central Java. The contribution of the use of agricultural machineries to sustainable agriculture is as follows; increase the work capacity so that it can overcome the delay of planting time, therefore simultaneous planting can be realized. With simultaneous planting, pest control will be easier, because the life cycle of pest can be cut off. The management of agricultural machineries that is part of the agricultural corporation is realized in Gapoktan, so that rice production system is integrated in a collaboration of rice production activities through grain processing into rice, increasing the profit margin to reach about Rp. 2.500.000- 3.739.000/ha. Increasing this profit becomes one of the impetus for farmers to produce and participate in sustainable agriculture